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2010 Acura MDX SH-AWD Review

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Rob Rothwell
New 6-speed Autobox Improves Performance
Acura’s flagship SUV is showing-off a new nose and some new hardware for 2010. This is Acura’s triple-row family ride that distills luxury, performance and outstanding handling capabilities into a single unit.

It’s hard to fault Acura’s flagship SUV. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com)

Led by the nose
Styling considerations undoubtedly draw many customers seeking a premium-level crossover into Acura showrooms. The MDX exhibits visual uniqueness among the throngs of bland-looking SUVs and crossovers congesting today’s market.

For 2010, Acura revised the nose of the MDX by adding massive air intakes into the lower fascia and by redesigning its bold grille to match the remaining Acura lineup. The result looks more aggressive than the previous execution but I’d be less than forthright if I said that I thought it was an improvement over 2009.

Fortunately, the revision is fairly benign, so I can’t complain with any sort of conviction other than to say, hmm. Overall though, the MDX remains among the “top few” when it comes to exhibiting lines more engaging than those so frequently found in this automotive genre.

The MDX’s cabin survives pretty well intact other than the addition of new leather hides and reorganized centre-stack buttons. Content has never been lacking—Acura fills the tasteful lodgings with a wide array of comfort and convenience features as standard equipment.

Although the third-row folding seat is abysmal for adults to access or spend any serious time in, all other seating positions provide generous allotments of head and legroom along with tremendous comfort and support—attributes essential to a long road trip.

Flipping down second and third row seating produces a cargo-hold with a flat load floor that’ll swallow plenty of bulky wares before suffering from over-consumption.

Loaded or not, the MDX supplies an enjoyable driving experience that has been enhanced for 2010 by a new 6-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the former 5-speed affair.

Acura fills the tasteful lodgings with a wide array of comfort and convenience features as standard equipment. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com)
Rob Rothwell
Rob Rothwell
Automotive expert
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